Building a Positive Company Culture

It has been proven time and again that happy employees make a huge difference to a company’s bottom line. Joyful employees are statistically up to 20% more productive, with the sales industry showing an even greater impact of 37%. Today’s job hunters don’t just look for placement, they also research employee reviews of businesses and look at published listings of “best places to work”. From the recruitment stage all the way to employee morale and performance, a happy team is crucial to the success of a business. People tend to stay longer, collaborate more and feel less stressed in a happy work environment.

A positive company culture is described as an environment where every team member feels engaged and motivated and valued. Whether you’re running a small business or a large corporation, there are inexpensive ways to build a positive foundation for your workers. The most important thing is to let your employees see you putting in effort and time to make their lives better.

Before making any significant changes to an existing culture, ask your employees what they like and don’t like about the current situation. Involving them in the decision-making process is another way to show them they have value, and people are always more invested in decisions when they are part of the process.

Promoting employee wellness is a great way to show you care. As an added bonus, you will also benefit from lowered healthcare premiums, since less stress is proven to be good for a person’s well-being. Provide your team with all the tools and resources they might need to stay healthy, both on- and off-site.

Nowadays, people want to know their lives have meaning. They want to make an impact on the world. As their boss, you can help them feel more fulfilled by coming up with a mission statement and values for your company and then meeting regularly with your team to keep them informed. Let each person know why they matter and how their individual position affects the clients and the company as a whole.

Leading by example is perhaps the easiest way to build and maintain a positive company culture. When you smile and compliment your workers and show gratitude for a job well done, you set a precedent for others to follow. When you show respect for workers, you yourself become someone to look up to. Hold monthly meetings where you can identify specific team members who met a sales goal or helped a customer or assisted in their community. People will want to please you when they feel rewarded.

Doing things as a company is another great way to break the ice and foster working relationships. Sponsor an event after hours or arrange a social function to let your employees relax and be themselves.